It was parked next to Chown Hardware, which sells security systems. There is an elaborate security camera system on the outside of their building at 333 NW 16th Avenue in Portland.

“We just thought we’d check our security cameras to see if we could figure out what happened,” Dave Chown told KOIN 6 News. “I couldn’t believe how fast it was.”

As prices for these security cameras falls, more people are purchasing them.

“The quality is way better,” Chown said. “You can zoom in and get license plate numbers, you can see exactly what their faces look like.”

This is one of two men seen on surveillance video stealing items from a car near Chown Hardware, 333 NW 16th Avenue in Portland. July 2, 2014 (KOIN 6 News)

Portland Police Bureau Sgt. Pete Simpson told KOIN 6 News the increase in the use of surveillance videos not only help the police, it might move a case to the front of the line.

“We definitely have to prioritize what we focus on for investigations and cases that have good evidence like video are going to get a higher priority than cases that don’t, because it gives us a lead to follow,” Simpson said.

The investigation into the car prowl outside Chown Hardware continues.